AAnnddrreewwss UUnniivveerrssiittyy DDiiggiittaall CCoommmmoonnss @@ AAnnddrreewwss UUnniivveerrssiittyy Dissertations Graduate Research 2005 FFaaccttoorrss IInnflfluueenncciinngg EEnnrroollllmmeenntt TTrreennddss iinn SSeevveenntthh--ddaayy AAddvveennttiisstt BBooaarrddiinngg SScchhoooollss oonn NNoorrtthh AAmmeerriiccaa Jeanette Wright Bryson Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Education Commons RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Bryson, Jeanette Wright, "Factors Influencing Enrollment Trends in Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Schools on North America" (2005). Dissertations. 251. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/251 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses . Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews University School of Education FACTORS INFLUENCING ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Jeanette Wright Bryson December 2005 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3213126 Copyright 2006 by Bryson, Jeanette Wright All rights reserved. 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Copyright by Jeanette Bryson 2006 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. FACTORS INFLUENCING ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Jeanette Wright Bryson APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ChaW^insdale Bernard Dean, school of Educatioir James Jeffery Member: Shirley Freed Memœr: Jerome Thay External: Lionel Matthews Date approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT FACTORS INFLUENCING ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA by Jeanette Wright Bryson Chair: Hinsdale Bernard Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: FACTORS INFLUENCING ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA Name of researcher: Jeanette Wright Bryson Name and degree of faculty chair: Hinsdale Bernard, Ph.D. Date completed: December 2005 Problem Enrollment is declining in the majority of Seventh-day Adventist boarding academies in North America, while it is increasing in a few. This study seeks to identify the more important factors related to increasing and declining enrollment trends. Method A basic causal-comparative study was conducted involving two groups of Seventh-day Adventist boarding academies, one with an increasing and one with a declining enrollment trend. A survey questionnaire was designed for educators, students, and parents/guardians affiliated with these academies to assess satisfaction and relevant perceptions and to rank the perceived importance of factors influencing enrollment trends, including Academics, Climate, Cost, Facilities, Leadership, Location, Mission, Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. trends, including Academics, Climate, Cost, Facilities, Leadership, Location, Mission, and Support. The statements were developed based on the findings from a review of literature, including the theories of Astin, Pascarella, Terenzini, and Tinto. Findings The most critical factors influencing enrollment for the respondents were Climate, Mission, and Academics. Cost was the weakest. There was no clear-cut distinction between respondents from academies experiencing an increasing and a declining enrollment trend on levels of satisfaction and perceptions of the factors that influence enrollment. Differences were evident in the relationship of socioeconomic status, church affiliation, and prior boarding academy experience of parents/guardians and levels of satisfaction, perceptions, and influences on enrollment. The findings supported the theories of enrollment, that it is not just one factor, but a combination of persons, systems, academics, and social influences that impact the decision to attend and stay enrolled in a private or parochial school. Conclusions Although a positive climate, excellent academics, and a focused mission are essential elements for maintaining stable enrollment levels, there still seem to be factors outside the eight identified in this study that could provide answers to the dilemma of declining enrollment trend in some of the Seventh-day Adventist boarding academies in North America. The value Adventists and other private and parochial organizations place on Christian education needs to be seriously assessed. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dedicated to my family and particularly in memory of my late husband, George E. Bryson, my father, James C. Wright, and my Asante grandfather, Nana Isaac Adu Bobi. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.